1 Deadline for submitting your laser cutting profiles: 12pm 10th September (Friday).

2 Neil Gershenfeld, The Center for Bits and Atoms, MIT

DSDN104 EXP2:

FABRICATE

DUE Tuesday September 21st at 12:00pm (lunchtime)1

30% of Course Grade

Introduction

“The work at each stage [of fabrication] is embodied in models, first of how something will

look, then of how it will work, then of how to make it. Those models were originally tangible

artifacts, then more recently became computer renderings. Now, thanks to the convergence

of computation and fabrication it’s possible to convert back and forth between bits and atoms,

between physical and digital representations of an object ...”2

In project one you learned to create 3D form in a virtual environment. This project explores

the physical expression of 3D form through digital manufacturing. Laser cutting interprets

two-dimensional CAD drawings as cutting paths. The result is typically a series of flat profiles

that need to be assembled and connected in some way to create 3D form.

Design challenge

Your challenge is to translate and develop your textured iteration from experiment one into a

physical artefact, through the use of laser cutting. You will first need to design how your

model will be divided into 2D profiles and then how the 2D pieces from the laser cutter are

transformed into a 3D construction.

You will be supplied one 1 millimetre-thick A4 piece of card and one 300 mm × 300 mm

sheet of 2 millimetre-thick clear acrylic. The overall structure of your model must be made

from these materials, but you should consider how additional materials could be used in

assembly and in design details. You are prohibited from using adhesive to assemble your

lasercut parts.

Design development is about producing, editing and then re-producing within a set of

parameters. The parameters are usually predefined but may be expected to evolve

somewhat upon reflecting on each development cycle. Your task is to create, analyze, refine,

and repeat.

Procedure

Visit http://www.firstyeardesign.com/index.php?/courses/dsdn104 at the start of each class

for the studio session plan.

Visit http://dsdn104.wordpress.com/ at the start of each class for the studio session plan.

1. Begin rendering or exporting sections of your model in 3D Studio Max, and tracing/

adjusting them in Illustrator.

2. Print the 2D profiles taken from your model and cut them from card to assemble sketch

models.

3. Research design precedents for examples of laser cutting and methods of assembling/

transforming 2D parts.

4. Develop your design through sketching and sketch models. Use material experiments to

explore assembly techniques.

5. If needed, create an assembly in Solidworks to resolve your connection details.

6. Submit your files for laser cutting by 12pm (lunchtime), FRIDAY 10th September.

7. Laser cutting will take place from MONDAY 13th September through FRIDAY 17th

September and all parts should be ready to be collected sometime in the week.

8. Assemble your model, then experiment with photography to capture the expressive

potential of the form and construction details. Also, re-render your model in 3d Studio Max

considering the outcomes of your photography.

9. Document the entire process on your tumblr blog, the whole time considering your graphic

presentation. Deadline is 12pm (lunchtime), TUESDAY 21st September.

REMEMBER to back up your work at the start and end of each studio session.

Software

• Autodesk 3DS Max / Design 2010

• Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator CS3

• Solidworks 2009

• Pepakura Designer 3 (Download trial version at http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en)

Submission Requirements

• Sketch models (minimum 5).

• One high quality laser-cut model.

• One tumblr blog containing:

• Images of design precedents (minimum 2).

• Development images including sketches and sketch models (minimum 6).

• One revised render of your digital model

• One photograph of your physical model

Assessment Criteria

1. Evidence of research into design precedents.

2. Effective transformation from concept to final design.

3. Evidence of experimentation in translation/transformation of virtual form to physical

representation.

4. Ability to capture the poetics of form through photography and rendering.

5. Quality and craft in drawings, images, presentations, computer models, renders and

physical models.

Dan Emery